Compare towns
Strong vs Danforth vs Union vs Phillips
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Strong | Danforth | Union | Phillips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,249 |
666Lowest |
2,663Highest |
1,094 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
| Danforth and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Phillips and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $920±$276 19% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
| Union and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,950 36% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.